1. Beynac-et-Cazenac
This village in the Dordogne department is listed as one of France’s most beautiful villages. With its typical houses, blond stone facades, lauze roofs and 12th-century castle overlooking the cliff… This medieval town with its unique character is unrivalled.
🚗 Bordeaux – Beynac-et-Cazenac: 2h20
2. Brantôme
Still in the Dordogne, here’s the one they call “The Venice of the Périgord“. Far from being a ghost town, Brantôme is brimming with places of cultural interest: the Bertin bridge, the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Pierre, the oldest bell tower in France… Crossed by the River Dronne, it also offers an exceptional natural setting.
🚗 Bordeaux – Brantôme: 1h50
3. Collonges-la-Rouge
A real architectural gem, I’d even go so far as to say: a ruby! As its name suggests, this little town in the Corrèze region is all in red. Indeed, the village owes its name to the sandstone quarried from the Puy de Valège, which rises to a height of 450 metres. Medieval streets, castles and fortified towers… It’s sure to delight history lovers!
🚗 Bordeaux – Collonges-la-Rouge: 2h20
4. Domme
We move from the Périgord Vert (Brantôme) to the Périgord Noir (Domme). This ancient medieval bastide overlooks the Dordogne valley, offering us a breathtaking view of the Château de Monfort, the village of La Roque-Gageac and the Château de Beynac (1st in this top).
🚗 Bordeaux – Domme: 2h30
5. La Roque-Gageac
Ranked among France’s most beautiful villages, it’s also the country’s third most-visited site, just behind Mont-Saint-Michel. In the Dordogne, this bucolic town on a south-facing cliff is not short of attractions. Its Romanesque church, exotic garden… A change of scenery guaranteed!
🚗 Bordeaux – La Roque-Gageac: 2h30
Also read on Bordeaux Secret: Top 5 of the most beautiful walks and hikes to do around Bordeaux!